Business Week in Review

Their names are on opposite sides of Fenway Park - and now they're on opposite sides of a court battle as well.

State Street Corp. and F.W. Webb are slugging it out in federal court now that the plumbing supply company claims that State Street and former affiliate CitiStreet gave F.W. Webb's 401(k) participants misleading information about a State Street fund.

The fund in question was portrayed to be as safe as a money market fund, but its value plummeted last year after State Street managers made risky bets on the subprime mortgage market.

Registry looking into green-car regs update

The Registry of Motor Vehicles is joining the green-vehicle bandwagon by assembling a task force to find the best ways to update the state's regulations and laws to allow flexibility for environmentally friendly vehicles.

The task force was partially sparked by a recent Registry decision that some three-wheeled electric vehicles were not allowed on Massachusetts roads because they're not legally considered to be a car or a motorcycle.

Rep. Paul McMurtry of Dedham brought votes in the House of Representatives to a halt to ensure that the town of Westwood's petition to allow a liquor license for a proposed Wegmans supermarket comes up for a vote.

This would be Wegmans' first store in New England, but its possible arrival raised concerns that it could have a competitive edge over a nearby Roche Bros. store that doesn't sell alcohol.

Rep slips trans fats ban to DPH for ruling

Rep. Peter Koutoujian of Waltham didn't have much luck getting his proposed statewide ban on trans fats in restaurants through the Legislature, so now he's turned to Gov. Deval Patrick's administration for help.

Patrick's Department of Public Health has agreed to study whether the agency can issue a blanket ban on trans fats without legislative approval.

TJX Cos. will sell off Bob's Stores chain

TJX Cos.' wardrobe is going to be a little less crowded now that the Framingham-based group of discount apparel chains has decided to spin off Bob's Stores by selling it to two private equity firms for an undisclosed amount.

TJX, which is best known for its T.J. Maxx and Marshalls chains, acquired Bob's in 2003. The 34 stores at Bob's together generated $310 million in revenue last year, but it's also been a money-loser for TJX for several years.

The Patriot Ledger

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